It’s hard not to pay the attention to the architecture when one is in Tallinn. The Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox churches provide a variety of architectural styles, and it’s so easy to become seduced by the beauty of this medieval city when walking through its squares and passages.

We climbed up the hill of Toompea to the Kohtuotsa – one of its viewing platforms, and were rewarded by a charming view over the cobblestone streets and red-rooftops. We also strolled to the Patkuli viewing spot where we had an impressive view of the Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration of our Lord and the nearby round defensive towers with the Gulf of Finland in the distance. In the old days the nobles living on the hill would come to these places and look down on merchants and artisans in the town below. The Toompea had been and still is the place where the nation’s rulers are seated.

I and Sylwia felt very satisfied of seeing some of the Tallinn’s charms, but Klara and Laura were a bit bored of those wonders of history and culture. The thing is that what impresses parents is typically entirely different from what impresses their kids. In general, our daughters’ attention is brought by muddy puddles, ice creams, gift shops, and apparently, it’ll take years for them to appreciate the beauty of the sunset or an architectural landmark. But family travelling is also about taking time, wandering together, and enjoying the relaxed rhythm of a day.